Stay for paper boxes and receptacles of a like nature.



PATENTED APR. 23, 190'].

E. W. ALLEN. STAY FOR PAPER BOXES AND REGEPTAGLBS OF A LI KB NATURE APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 31. 1905.

2 SHEETS-611E111 l.

Suvcntoz NORRIS PETER: co., vusnuvomm n. c

No. 851,583. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907,:

E. W. ALLEN. OXES AND REOBPTAGLES OF ATLIKE NATURE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0013.31, 1905.

STAY FOR PAPER B 2 SHEETS--SHI5I1T 2.

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STAY FOR PAPER BOXES AND RECEPTACLES OF A LIKE NATURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed October 31, 1905. Serial No. 285,325.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford City, in the county of Blackford and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stays for Paper Boxes and Receptacles of a Like Nature, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stays for paper boxes and receptacles of a like nature, and its primary object is to provide novel and highly useful devices of this character which will permit paper boxes and receptacles of a like nature being shipped. in knocked-down condition and erected easily and quickly, whereby to facilitate the packing of paper boxes and the like receptacles for shipment and storage, and whereby to permit of their immediate use demands.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stay which will firmly retain a paper box or a receptacle of the like nature in an erected or assembled condition, which is simple and durable of construction, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1. is a perspective view of one corner of a paper box or receptacle of a like nature, illustrating the application of my improved stay. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2.-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view in detail of the coupling member. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one corner of the box, the same being illustrated in knockeddown condition. Fig. 6 is a view in detail of the blank from which the coupling member is constructed, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view in detail of one of the socket members.

Referring to the drawings by reference i numerals, 1 designates the bottom, and 2 the sides of a common construction of paper box or receptacle of a like nature.

My improved stay unites the adjacent ends of the sides 2 and retains them firmly in upright position, whereby a paper box or other receptacle is ready for use. The stay comprises in the main two socket members and one coupling member. The socket members embrace the transverse edges of the sides 2 so as to make provision for the application of the coupling member. The socket members are constructed preferably from single blanks of sheet metal of the construction illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and comprises wings 3 connected by means of webs i terminating at points shorter than the height of the wings 3 to provide shoulders at, for a purpose to be presently stated. The outer longitudinal edges of the wings 3 are provided with tangs 5 which engage in the sides of the receptacle to firmly secure the socket members thereto.

The application of the socket members to the sides 2 is such as will provide spaces or pockets between one of the wings 3 of each socket member and the outer surfaces of the sides 2, said spaces or pockets being provided for the reception of the coupling member. The coupling member is also constructed from a single blank of sheet metal of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This member is provided with two stems or arms 6 united at a point adjacent their upper ends by means of a web 7, the lower edge of said web providing a shoulder S. The stems or arms 6 are fitted into the spaces or pockets formed by the application of the socket members to the sides 2, and thereby firmly connect the sides, the downward movement of the stems or arms 6 in said spaces or pockets being limited by the engagement of the shoulder 8 with the shoulders 4. The stems or arms 6 are formed with tangs 9 which project upwardly to permit the application of the coupling member and to engage the sides 2 to prevent its withdrawal. Those portions 10 of the stems or arms 6 of the coupling member which project above the web 7 are bent over the upper longitudinal edges of the sides 2 to engage over the upper edges of the inner wings 3 of the socket members, whereby to strengthen the stay and to prevent the upper edges of the inner wings 3 of the socket members from forming obstructions. The blanks from which the socket members are formed are bent longitudinally on the webs 4 to dispose the wings 3 in spaced and parallel relation, so as to adapt them for application to the ends of the sides 2 of the receptacle. The blank from which the coupling member is formed is bent longitudinally on the web 7, so as to dispose the stems or arms 6 thereof at right angles with relation to each other so as to position the stems or arms 6 for application in the spaces or pockets formed by the application of the socket members to the sides 2 of the receptacle. After the coup- I ling member has been thus applied, the upper portions 10 thereof are bent downwardly to engage over the upper edges of the sides 2 of the receptacle and the upper edges of the Wings 3 of the socket members. After the coupling member has been applied, the tangs 9 will engage the sides 2 of the receptacle and prevent the withdrawal of the coupling member.

At the factory the side members 2 of the receptacle are provided with the socket members, and the receptacle is shipped in knockeddown condition. The coupling members are shipped separately, and when it is desired to assemble the receptacle, the sides 2 thereof are folded at right angles with relation to the bottom 1 thereof, after which the coupling member is applied.

It is thus apparent that I provide a stay for paper boxes and receptacles of a like nature whichpermits of the receptacles being shipped 1 in knocked-down condition, and which permits of their being readily assembled.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is:

The combination with the sides of a receptacle, of socket members consisting of wings connected by Webs shorter than the Wings, said members being secured to the ends of the sides to provide pockets, and a coupling member consisting of stems connected by a web located at a point intermediate the ends of the stems, said stems being arranged at right angles with relation to each other and adapted to be positioned in said pockets, those portions of the stems extending above the Web being bent downwardly over the edges of the sides, said stems being provided with tangs which project upwardly to permit the application of the coupling member and to engage the sides to prevent its withdrawal.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD W. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

D. O. CHIPMAN, JULIA A. MOORE; 

